Writing to Argue / persuade / explain / inform / advise / describe

The second part of the English exam is writing to...
You have to do both tasks.

This time try one or more of these exercises.
Think about the form of the text you are asked to write, draw a spidergram to help you plan and put as much detail on it in about 3 minutes as you can!
Think about:

• who your audience [reader] is
• formal / informal / chatty?
• personal / impersonal?
• first person / second person / third person?
• humour?
• anecdote?
• persuasive techniques?
• presentational techniques?
• vocabulary?
• write about the where / when / why if relevant
• describe using your senses if relevant
• how to address your reader?
• how to engage their interest?

Number the parts of your diagram and begin writing. Spend between 25 and 35 minutes in total on each exercise.

1     Write a letter to parents of yr 11 informing them of a charity day your year group are organising. Inform them of what you are aiming to do and why and how they can get involved.
2     Write an article for a teenage magazine explaining why teenagers should get involved in recycling.
3     Write the text for a leaflet in which you argue for the school day to be more flexible.
4     Write an article for your school magazine in which you try to persuade your year group of the benefits of a gap year between yr 11 and the sixth form.
5     Write a letter to the Head of Year arguing in favour of getting rid of school uniform for year 11 and the introduction of a common room for year 11.
6     Write the text of a leaflet advising new students to the school 'how to survive' in their new school.
7     Write a description of a memorable holiday.

8     Write a letter to your friends and family explaining why you would rather they didn't give you a Christmas present but gave the money to charity instead.
9     Write a letter to your local council in which you try to persuade them to spend money on making your local community a better place to live for everyone.
10    Write a review for a magazine informing teenagers about a film you have seen recently or a book you have read.
11    Write a description of a place you would like to live and explain why you would like to live there.